At the Y, we strengthen com unity through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility because we believe in nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving our community’s health and well being, giving back, and providing support for our neighbors That’s what Jason Dixon, a proud father of four and track and field coach at Gonzaga Prep, found out when he joined the Y in June of 2016. Jason grew up in Spokane and started education at SCC, throwing in Track and Field events. He later transferred to the University of Alabama. Since 5th grade, Jason has had a passion for sports, particularly throwing. He has competed in shot-put and discus, and set a Freshman GSL record for discus in 2009. He even won a state championship in shot-put! In 2012, Jason went to the Olympic Trials and took 21st place for discus. Since he was a kid, he has always wanted to make it to the Olympics someday, and at the Y, we are...

At the Y, we strengthen community through healthy living because we believe that a community is stronger when people have opportunities to improve their health and well-being. We work with people to provide a nurturing environment in which you can develop skills and relationships for support in meeting your goals. Take, for example, the story of Anita Coleman. A loving mother of four and grandmother of eight, Anita has a passion for helping others. She has spent 13 years running her own massage business and often spends time with her children and grandchildren. However, Anita had some struggles with her own fitness, and spent many years overweight. At one point, she weighed 355 pounds and felt as though she couldn’t get up to enjoy her family or herself. That began to change four years ago when Anita’s insurance switched. Her new doctor recommended water aerobics, and feeling as though it would be the best way to help herself and others, she decided to join the Y. She had been...

Time catches up with all of us. It eventually tells our knees, hips, and shoulders we are no longer twenty. For Patty and Daniel, who both learned to swim at the Y as children, time was calling them to rethink their fitness goals. Realizing they would not be able to age and continue to run or play basketball at their previous youthful levels, they looked for a physical activity they could pursue together. They found juggling and joined the Y in June 2009. Some laugh when they hear about juggling. That’s O.K. Patty and Daniel, who have been married 31 years, don’t mind. What’s nice about the Y is so many are involved in the pursuit of physical fitness to enjoy life and improve their health. It’s the goal-setting and commitment of Y members, whether lifting weights, participating in a TRX class, or sweating and grooving to a Zumba class, which encourage Patty and Daniel to continue to work at their juggling game. Just being around all of these active people is inspirational to...